Vikings Links:  Should The Vikings Sign Aaron Rodgers?

Now that Arron Rodgers is going to get released the speculation is ramping up. I would not mind if the Vikings signed him to be honest. I am not sure they will be able to bring back Darnold or Jones. I think they both will get fairly significant deals north of 20M per year. Rodgers might sign for 10-15M for one year? If not, then they can grab some other veteran like Jameis Winston or Cooper Rush.

I do not see it being a good thing with this fan base for the team to bring in any veteran that AMY start over JJ. The fan base will be calling for JJ after every three and out or interception. We all know that JJ will not go three and out or throw any picks right? Cray cray.

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Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Vikings Get Surprising News on Former MVP to Replace Sam Darnold

The Minnesota Vikings are in the market to find a veteran replacement for Sam Darnold.

Minnesota will be searching for a veteran insurance plan to protect McCarthy from being rushed into action too early.

And, according to oddsmakers, the Vikings have a good shot at landing Aaron Rodgers, to the chagrin of many in Minnesota. DraftKings Sportsbook has the Vikings with the fourth-best odds of landing Rodgers at +400, an implied probability of 20%.

The top-four favorites to land Rodgers have quarterback questions. The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the group with +200 odds, followed by the Las Vegas Raiders (+300), San Francisco 49ers (+350) and Minnesota (+400).

There is quite a gap after that. The Indianapolis Colts (+650), Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans (+850) and New York Giants (+1200) are the next teams favored — all longshots compared to the top four.

“Big scoopage: Aaron Rodgers flew back to New Jersey last week to meet with the Jets about his future with the team, only to be told that the team was moving on from him,” Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported on February 9. “That means that he will be a June 1 designation that allows him to sign with any team in the league on March 12, if he decides to continue to play. Given that Aaron made the effort to fly back to discuss his future, all signs point to him continuing to play. It just won’t be for the Jets.”

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5 reasons why Aaron Rodgers could be magical in Minnesota

1. Complete the Brett Favre cycle

If it happens, it will be hard to ignore the chances of Jordan Love playing for the Vikings in 15 years because Rodgers would be the second consecutive Packers legendary quarterback to play for the Jets and Vikings after departing Green Bay. Like Favre, Rodgers didn’t have success in New York. Will he be like Favre and rebound with an MVP-caliber season with Minnesota? It may be written in the stars…

2. Rodgers might play for cheap

At 42 years old, Rodgers isn’t going to command a contract like the one he signed with the Jets (three years and $112 million with $75 million guaranteed). It’s possible that he’d play on a team-friendly deal for the best chance to win a Super Bowl. If the Vikings could get Rodgers for a Sam Darnold-like $10 million, it might be worth it.

3. The publicity and jersey sales

4. Mentoring McCarthy

Anyone who watched the Rodgers documentary on Netflix knows that Rodgers appeared to be a really good teacher for Jordan Love in Green Bay and Zach Wilson in New York. He’s one of the smartest quarterbacks in the history of the game and his presence would give McCarthy another year to marinate in Kevin O’Connell’s offense while learning from a future Hall of Famer. What’s the worst that could happen? If Rodgers played one year in Minnesota, McCarthy could debut at 23 years old for the 2026-27 season.

5. Orbs, aliens, conspiracy theories and politics

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Vikings blockbuster trade idea replaces J.J. McCarthy with projected $240 million star

Uncertainty breeds speculation, and Marissa Myers of The Wright Way Network recently posted a wild trade prediction between the Vikings and San Francisco 49ers, swapping McCarthy for star quarterback Brock Purdy.

Here was her take on what would be a mind-blowing blockbuster this offseason:

After drafting JJ McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft, it seemed as though he was going to be the future. After suffering a torn meniscus in his knee, McCarthy has missed his entire rookie season, allowing Darnold to step up and take over. With how Darnold has commanded the support of the locker room, and having the experience factor, it would be ideal for the Vikings to bring him back. For McCarthy, they can trade him and get immense return value. While it may not appear to make sense to trade McCarthy, he is coming off a knee injury, and how he plays after it isn’t known. This added on to the rookie learning curve that he missed during his actual rookie season will complicate things and only lead to him needing more time to be ready to fully start. The Vikings, in a competitive NFC North, don’t have the time to waste.

With Purdy he would provide the stabilizing play for the season that the Vikings need to have a starting caliber quarterback in case they can’t re-sign Darnold in free agency.

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NFL Insider Confirms When JJ McCarthy is Expected Back for Vikings

Well on Sunday, Pelissero confirmed those earlier reports, noting that McCarthy is expected to be a full participant at organized team activities, come mid-late May. The well-known NFL Network insider also reports that JJ will begin on-field workouts again in the “the next few weeks”.

McCarthy, who had a full repair of his torn meniscus in August and an additional procedure in November, is expected to begin football drills in the next few weeks and should be ready to roll by OTAs in May.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), the Minnesota Vikings are keeping the franchise tag on the table for Darnold, in case his price gets too high in free agency. But even if they don’t hold onto Sam, the Minnesota Vikings will bring in a veteran starting-caliber QB as an insurance policy for McCarthy.

And just as with Cousins last year, it only takes one team to offer Darnold a contract that the Vikings simply don’t feel comfortable matching. If the Vikings and Darnold can’t work out a deal before March 4, the franchise tag — or even a tag-and-trade — are among several options. But it’s too early in the process to know where this ends.

If Darnold leaves, the Vikings will add a veteran insurance policy, with Daniel Jones among the logical options after spending the last half of the season in Minnesota.

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Vikings predicted to draft ‘brutal terror’ in first round as Harrison Smith replacement

In his latest mock draft following Super Bowl LIX, Crabbs had the Vikings landing a “brutal terror” for opposing offenses in South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. Here was his take on a player he believes defensive coordinator Brian Flores would love:

Minnesota’s secondary has a clear vacancy in the secondary with the need for a long-term anchor on the back end. Harrison Smith has been an amazing player for Minnesota but is in the endgame of his career, and Cam Bynum is an expiring contract. The chance to add Emmanwori to Brian Flores’ defense is, frankly, a horrifying thought for opposing offenses. He’s got ball skills and zone-coverage ability but is also blazing fast and would be a brutal terror in the Vikings’ pressure packages.

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Three-round 2025 NFL mock draft: Bears, Jaguars, Patriots, Vikings pick running backs in Round 3

Pick 24 Buffalo Bills Kenneth Grant

PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Bills send Pick No. 30 and two fourth-rounders to Minnesota (which currently has no selections in Round 4) to move up for the big but nimble Grant, improving a rush defense that gave up 311 yards and four scores on the ground in Buffalo’s final two playoff games.

Pick 30 Minnesota Vikings

Azareye’h Thomas

Florida State · CB · Junior

The Vikings face the possibility of a near-complete turnover at the corner position this offseason, with four veterans — including starters Stephon Gilmore and Byron Murphy — scheduled for free agency. Thomas’ size (6-1, 191) and aggressiveness in coverage make him a first-round value.

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Philly has giants in the trenches compared to Vikings’ offensive, defensive lines

Hiring gigantic, athletic people to play on the offensive and defensive lines appears to be the secret sauce to dominating in the NFL. A terrific quarterback is also necessary, but the way the Philadelphia Eagles manhandled the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the trenches is going to lead to a surge of copycats hoping to recreate Philly’s success.

Eagles starting offensive line

LT: Jordan Mailata — 7th-round pick by Philly in 2018

LG: Landon Dickerson — 2nd-round pick by Philly in 2021

C: Cam Jurgens — 2nd-round pick by Philly in 2022

RG: Mekhi Becton — 11th overall pick in 2020 by the Jets. Signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with Philadelphia in April 2024.

RT: Lane Johnson — 1st-round pick by Philly in 2013

Eagles starting defensive line

Milton Williams — 3rd-round pick by Philly in 2021

Jordan Davis — 1st-round pick by Philly in 2022

Jalen Carter — 1st-round pick by Philly in 2023

Player : Height : Weight

Eagles LT Jordan Mailata : 6’8’’ : 365

Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw : 6’5’’ : 315

Eagles LG Landon Dickerson : 6’6’’ : 332

Vikings LG Blake Brandel : 6’7’’ : 315

Eagles C Cam Jurgens : 6’3’’ : 303

Vikings C Garrett Bradbury : 6’3’’ : 300

Eagles RG Mekhi Becton : 6’7’’ : 353

Vikings RG Dalton Risner : 6’5’’ : 312

Eagles RT Lane Johnson : 6’6’’ : 325

Vikings RT Brian O’Neill : 6’7’’ : 310

Player : Height : Weight

Eagles DE Milton Williams : 6’3’’ : 290

Vikings DE Jonathan Bullard : 6’3’’ : 290

Eagles NT Jordan Davis : 6’6’’ : 336

Vikings NT Harrison Phillips : 6’3’’ : 307

Eagles DT Jalen Carter : 6’3’’ : 314

Vikings DT Jerry Tillery : 6’6’’ : 295

Philadelphia drafted four of five starters on the offensive line and signed the other in free agency. And the guys they drafted were taken in the first or second round with the exception of the 7th-round home run pick of Mailata. On the defensive line, Carter and Davis were first-round picks and Williams was a third-round selection.

None of Minnesota’s starting defensive linemen were Vikings draft picks. On the O-line, Darrisaw and Bradbury were first-round picks and O’Neill was a second-rounder, but Brandel was a sixth-round flyer and Risner was signed as a free agent.

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Minnesota Vikings’ free agency wish list includes o-line, cornerback, running back

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings enter free agency with plenty of cap space…and holes to fill. According to Over The Cap, the team has $58 million in cap space, the seventh-most in the league.

Although the team has money to spend, they need to spend it wisely. They won’t be able to fill many holes with just three draft picks. According to NFL.com, the Vikings are expected to receive an additional third-round compensatory pick. But their recent track record in the draft doesn’t inspire too much confidence.

In addition to free agent needs, all recent draft picks in each position group are listed as well. This is to show the investment in the draft under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s regime, or lack thereof.

Interior offensive line

Free agents: Dalton Risner

Priority number one.

Sam Darnold’s pocket movement is considerably better than Kirk Cousins’. Darnold helped mitigate leaky protection in the regular season. But in their playoff loss to the Rams, the constant pressure on Darnold reminded fans that a middling line can be a fatal flaw. Interior pressure has hurt them for what feels like forever. According to Fantasy Pros, Darnold was hurried 52 times, tied for the fourth most in the league. He was only blitzed the 16th most in the league. Stats never tell the whole story, but that discrepancy, along with the eye test, is enough.

Guard Ed Ingram was benched mid-season in favor of Risner. Ingram is in the last year of his deal. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s cut, and Risner won’t likely return.

Center Garrett Bradbury has one year left on his deal but leaves much to be desired in protection. Blake Brandel has two years left on his contract.

The Vikings could opt to replace one, two, or all three starters on the interior.

Cornerback

Free agents: Byron Murphy Jr., Shaq Griffin, Stephon Gilmore, Fabian Morea

The Vikings need a lot of help here.

I doubt Gilmore or Griffin return, both coming off one-year deals, and Gilmore openly contemplating retirement. Murphy is coming off of a career year, leading the team with six interceptions. The Vikings would like him back, but management might decide his price on the open market is too high.

Running back

Free agents: Aaron Jones, Cam Akers

Interior defensive Line

Free agents: Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery

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An Off Season Plan before the mock

Starting Cap Space

2025: $58,012,543

2026: $101,508,844

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Cut Ed Ingram : saves 3.325M in 2025 cap space

Extend Byron Murphy – 3 yr 51M

Extend Cam Bynum – 3 yr 42M

Extend Aaron Jones – 2 yr 14M

Extend Aaron Rodgers 1 yr 15M

Extend Dalton Risner 2 yr 8M

Extend Theo Jackson 1 yr 3.185M (Right Of First Refusal tag)

Sign DT Teair Tart 2 yr 10M

Sign Will Hernandez – 2 yr 9M

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Ending Cap Space

2025: $26,417,543

2026: $47,903,844

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With the amount of cap remaining, the Vikings could and should be players in the cut candidate market. They can also create more cap room by extending Van Ginkel and Oliver but that cuts down on the 2026 cap space.

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Yore Mock

Trades

Trade Partner: Eagles

Sent: R1.24

Received: R1.32, R2.64

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Trade Partner: Jaguars

Sent: R2.64

Received: R3.70, R4.105, R6.182

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Trade Partner: Giants

Sent: R3.97

Received: R4.103, R5.155

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Trade Partner: Colts

Sent: R6.182

Received: R6.189, R7.234

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R1.32 Tyliek Williams DT Ohio State 6’3” 327

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R3.70 Jonah Savaiinaea OG Arizona 6’5” 336

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R4.103 Jared Wilson C Georgia 6’3” 310

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R4.105 Nohl Williams CB Cal 6’1” 200

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R5.139 Billy Bowman S 5’10” 200

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R5.155 Cody Simon LB Ohio State 6’2” 235

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R6.189 Tahj Brooks RB Texas Tech 5”10” 230

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R7.234 Tonka Hemingway DT South Carolina 6’3” 288

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R7.239 Johnny Walker Jr. EDGE Missouri 6’3” 255

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